When president Gwendolyn Tucker of RIX International first partnered with Communities Unlimited (CU) in early 2023, she was reeling from the loss of two major contracts — through no fault of her own. It was a tough setback, one that could have halted momentum for her Memphis, Tennessee, leadership development firm.

Instead, she took deliberate steps forward and turned the corner for good.

Now, less than two years later, Tucker has doubled her revenue in the first couple of months of 2025, secured two new contracts with Shelby County, and is building a national footprint that stretches far beyond Tennessee.

With over two decades of experience in corporate finance, Tucker had the technical knowledge but needed help translating her vision into sustained business growth. That’s where CU’s Entrepreneurship Team came in.

“I tell Barretta she cracked the whip,” Tucker said. “She stayed on my case. For the first time, I had all of my expenses in QuickBooks by year’s end, and we filed our income taxes on time. Rhett also helped clarify things I didn’t know how to enter. Even though I’m a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) by trade, I wasn’t putting in everything I should’ve.”

Together, they cleaned up her books, fine-tuned her capabilities statement, and built a strategy around networking and business development. CU also helped her link social media to her website and rethink her digital engagement — steps that led to expanded visibility and connections across the region.

“Mrs. Gwendolyn is always engaged and cooperative throughout the process of building her business,” said CU’s Barretta Robinson. “She often tells me, ‘Barretta keeps me accountable for doing my QuickBooks.’ I really encourage her to stay on top of her tracking — she wants to understand her numbers, and if something’s off, we can address it right away.”

Much of RIX International’s work is project-based. So, Robinson coached Tucker on consistent prospecting, how to stay top of mind with potential clients, and how to approach Request for Proposal (RFPs) with strategy and confidence.

“I spoke for an hour and a half, and someone in the audience — a decision maker — saw me,” Tucker said. “That one engagement turned into an annual contract worth six figures.”

Tucker was awarded two Shelby County contracts: one for professional development and another for an apprenticeship program — with opportunities for renewal or expansion.

The wins reflect not just a business surge but a shift in mindset.

“Someone once described a leader as ‘tough on issues but tender with people.’ That’s how I would describe Barretta,” Tucker said. “She encouraged me through the uncomfortable parts and helped me grow through them.”

She credits CU’s Staff Meeting in Montgomery, Alabama, in November 2024 as a breakthrough moment. Tucker brought her team to deliver training and saw firsthand the value in replicating a high-touch, high-impact experience across geographies.

“Until then, I’d been the one delivering everything. But that experience helped me realize — we can expand our territory, scale our approach, and still deliver excellence.”

With new contracts in place and a growing team, Tucker is turning her personal brand into a scalable business. She’s using her book, Called to Lead: What to Do When A Leadership Positions Finds You, released in 2024, as a tool to generate leads and open doors. Book signings, keynote talks, and even appearances on local media — including an appearance with Memphis-based radio personality Michael Adrian Davis on April 10 — have positioned her as a go-to voice in leadership development.

CU continues to support Tucker with biweekly check-ins and monthly financial reviews. The relationship is reciprocal: RIX International now provides services back to CU and is gaining traction in new markets thanks to introductions from CU.